Perception vs. reality in deepwater exploration
- Mobil Exploration and Producing Technical Center, Dallas, TX (United States)
The common perception in exploration is that deepwater sands are predominantly a product of turbidity currents, and that submarine-fan models with channel/levee and lobe elements are the norm. The reality, however, is that in many cases, deepwater sands are deposits of sandy debris flows and bottom currents, not turbidity currents. Submarine-fan models with channels and lobes are designed for turbidite-dominated deepwater systems, and therefore, fan models are obsolete for debris-flow deposits. The subject is described here in a discussion that covers: Deepwater processes. How sediments move downslope from the shelf, definitions, and misunderstood effects of high-density turbidity and bottom currents; Submarine fan models, and sequence stratigraphic implications. Limitations of widely used models, and seismic geometries and log motifs. Better calibrations are needed. In the conclusion, the author states a critical need for developing additional models for debris flows, and that research should also focus on developing reliable methods for using seismic geometry and wireline-log motifs to recognize depositional facies. A comprehensive bibliography of published literature on the subject is liberally referenced. In this paper, the term deep water refers to bathyal water depths, i.e., area seaward of the shelf edge, that existed at the time of deposition of reservoir sands; it does not necessarily refer to present-day water depths in offshore examples.
- OSTI ID:
- 392221
- Journal Information:
- World Oil, Vol. 217, Issue 9; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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